2023 Subaru Solterra Problems: 21 Known Issues

On the 2023 Subaru Solterra, the Subaru Solterra (shared platform with Toyota bZ4X) was subject to a critical safety recall for hub bolts that can loosen during driving, potentially causing wheel detachment. A higher-than-expected friction coefficient on the bolt surface left lower clamping force at assembly, heat from driving could relax bolt torque further, and the wheels had a rough contact surface and misaligned bolt holes. Low bolt torque retention allows bolts to progressively loosen. This recall halted sales and deliveries of both Solterra and bZ4X for several months in 2022; no Solterras had been delivered to customers when it was announced. Subaru recall WRD-22 (NHTSA 22V-444, filed by Toyota) covers free inspection and repair.

On the 2023 Subaru Solterra, the Solterra was subject to a recall (NHTSA 23V-064, Subaru WRE-23) for hub bolts that can loosen during driving. These 2023 Solterras had their hub bolts replaced at port processing facilities under the earlier hub-bolt recall, and one third-party contractor team did not complete the procedure properly, leaving bolts significantly under-torqued. Loose hub bolts can cause the wheel to separate from the vehicle. Owners were told not to drive the vehicle until the inspection was done, with free towing to the dealer.

On the 2023-2025 Subaru Solterra, the Subaru Solterra is built alongside its Toyota counterpart, and 2023-2025 Solterras equipped with the Panoramic View Monitor are included in NHTSA recall 25V744000 - a campaign filed by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing that also covers a range of Toyota and Lexus models. A software error may cause the Solterra's rearview camera to freeze or show a blank screen when the vehicle is placed in reverse, meaning it does not comply with FMVSS 111, "Rear Visibility." Toyota states the consequence as a reduced view behind the vehicle and an increased risk of a crash. The campaign-wide total is roughly 1,024,407 vehicles across all brands involved.

On the 2023-2026 Subaru Solterra Dual Motor AWD (electric), separate from the pre-collision phantom-braking complaints, owners report the EyeSight lane-centering/lane-keep assist wandering or 'ping-ponging' back and forth between lane markers, especially on faded or poorly painted roads and in construction zones. The system can hug one line, correct hard toward the other, and repeat, undermining confidence in the highway-assist feature that is a core selling point.

On the 2023-2025 Subaru Solterra, subaru is recalling 2023-2025 Solterra models under NHTSA campaign 25V577000 (Subaru's own recall number is WRD-25). On the Solterra, defrosting and defogging are handled by the same climate system that heats and cools the cabin, so when that system suffers certain HVAC faults - the recall specifically calls out failure of the electrical compressor - the defroster and defogger can become inoperative. NHTSA's consequence statement is straightforward: with no working defroster or defogger, the driver's visibility can be reduced in certain driving conditions, which raises the risk of a crash. The campaign is shared with Toyota's bZ4X and the Lexus RZ, which are built on the same platform as the Solterra; the 94,320 units NHTSA lists cover the entire campaign across all three vehicles, not the Solterra alone.

On the 2023-2026 Subaru Solterra Dual Motor AWD (electric), solterra owners in cold climates report the cabin heating is slow to warm up and often blows cool air from the vents while driving in freezing temperatures. The Solterra has used a DENSO heat pump since its 2023 launch, but owners still describe the cabin heat pump as undersized or slow, and battery preconditioning was only added for the 2026 model year. Dealers commonly tell owners the slow heating is 'normal operation.' A subset of cases involve a genuine fault - a stuck heat-pump expansion valve or A/C-compressor problem - producing no heat at all. This heavily impacts winter usability and drives the cold-weather range complaints.

On the 2023-2025 Subaru Solterra, owners report sudden 'EV System Malfunction' and 'Drive-Start Control System Malfunction' warnings, sometimes with loss of the range estimate, disabled S-pedal, and in some cases a no-start or reduced-power state that can strand the driver. Transport Canada recall 2025456 says an HVAC software problem can put the HVAC system into a failsafe mode that triggers these messages; the matching U.S. recall 25V577 (Subaru WRD-25) covers HVAC faults such as electric compressor failure that can also disable the defroster. Some owners' warnings clear only after a dealer software reset.

On the 2023-2025 Subaru Solterra, solterra owners report frequent DC fast charging (CCS) session failures, where the vehicle stops charging prematurely, fails to initiate a charging session, or charges at significantly reduced speeds. The 2023-2025 Solterra's maximum DC fast charge rate is 100 kW, but many owners report being limited to 40-80 kW or less even on high-powered chargers. Cold battery temperatures, software bugs, and charger compatibility issues all contribute. The liquid-cooled battery's thermal management limits charging speed in hot and cold conditions; Subaru added a more robust battery conditioning system for 2024 that charges faster below freezing.

On the 2023-2026 Subaru Solterra, despite being an EV with a large high-voltage battery, the Solterra relies on a small 12V auxiliary battery to power control modules and enable the vehicle to 'start.' This 12V battery drains quickly when the vehicle sits for more than 5-7 days, or when various modules fail to enter sleep mode properly. A dead 12V battery means the vehicle cannot be powered on, doors may not unlock, and the charging port won't open - even with a fully charged main battery. Multiple software updates have attempted to address module sleep behavior.

On the 2023-2026 Subaru Solterra Dual Motor AWD (electric), the recessed charge-port door on the Solterra collects rainwater and car-wash water in its cup-shaped pocket; in freezing temperatures the door freezes shut or the internal latch plunger/actuator sticks, preventing charging. Owners also report the opposite failure - a persistent 'charging port lid is open' warning and the flap not locking - as well as the connector failing to release from the port. Because it directly blocks charging in exactly the cold conditions where range is already short, it generates high owner-forum demand.

On the 2023-2025 Subaru Solterra, the Solterra shares its e-TNGA platform with the Toyota bZ4X and inherits its conservative battery thermal management. DC fast charging speeds peak at approximately 100 kW initially but rapidly taper as the battery warms up; Subaru quoted about 56 minutes for 10-80% on the 2023 model (about 35 minutes for 2024), significantly longer than competing EVs, and cold-weather sessions run much longer. In warm ambient temperatures (above 85°F), the system throttles charging further to protect battery longevity, sometimes reducing charge rate to 25-30 kW.

On the 2023-2026 Subaru Solterra Dual Motor AWD (electric), owners frequently report wireless Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth failing to connect or dropping out. A common, repeatable pattern is CarPlay refusing to auto-reconnect after a remote start / remote climate session; other owners see spotty Bluetooth that blocks calls and audio with no consistent trigger. This is distinct from the full head-unit reboot/black-screen issue - here the infotainment is running but the phone-projection/Bluetooth link fails. Subaru has issued Subaru Multimedia head-unit software updates, but many owners report only partial improvement.

On the 2023-2026 Subaru Solterra Dual Motor AWD (electric), the SubaruConnect (Solterra Connect) app is a persistent pain point: owners report the Remote Climate page failing to open (it flashes then reverts to the previous screen), scheduled preconditioning not firing, charge/state-of-charge status not updating without manual refresh, frequent crashes, constant permission re-prompts, and heavy background battery drain on the phone. Because remote preconditioning is the main mitigation for the car's weak cold-weather heat and range, an app that will not reliably start it is a widely reported problem.

On the 2023-2024 Subaru Solterra, owners report the central infotainment screen randomly going dark and rebooting (typically recovering after about 10 seconds), along with glitchy Bluetooth and dropped phone projection. The black-screen/reboot events have been reported on 2023 Solterra Touring trims and appear to be a software/memory fault, temporarily disabling navigation, audio, and climate touch controls.

On the 2023-2026 Subaru Solterra Electric (dual-motor AWD), the Solterra ships with low-profile original-equipment tires (18-inch on lower trims, 20-inch on Limited/Touring) that owners report are easily damaged by curbs and potholes (sidewall cuts, punctures) and can wear quickly/unevenly. One owner reported a sidewall cut all the way to the steel belt at just ~200 miles, unrepairable and requiring replacement. The vehicle carries no spare tire; instead it has an inflator-and-sealant mobility kit that owners describe as useless for a sidewall failure or any puncture larger than ~4mm or a tire off the rim. Using the sealant can foul the TPMS sensor. With no spare, a damaged tire often means a flatbed tow, and 20-inch EV-rated replacements are pricey and can be hard to source quickly.

On the 2023-2026 Subaru Solterra Dual Motor AWD (electric), owners and reviewers describe the Solterra's ride as firm or 'busy' over broken pavement, most pronounced on Limited/Touring trims with the larger 20-inch wheels and lower-profile tires. Because there is no engine noise to mask it, tire roar and road noise are more prominent than owners expect for the class, and it is a common comfort complaint on longer drives. Not a defect, but a frequently searched ownership drawback.

On the 2023-2026 Subaru Solterra Dual Motor AWD (electric), the Solterra (EPA-rated ~222-228 miles for 2023-2025 depending on trim; the refreshed 2026 is rated at more than 285 miles) delivers well below its advertised range in sustained highway and cold-weather use. Owners report ~180-210 miles of real highway range at 70-75 mph in mild weather, dropping to roughly 130-150 usable miles in cold winter conditions (20-30 percent-plus loss). Contributing factors: the guess-o-meter overestimates when the car is new and recalibrates downward, the 2023-2025 models lack battery preconditioning (added for 2026), and the cabin heater draws 3-5 kW continuously in the cold. European (Norwegian and Danish) independent tests also measured range well under the WLTP figure. This is the single most common non-charging owner frustration and drives heavy search demand around road-trip planning.

On the 2023-2025 Subaru Solterra, when the traction battery is cold or at a high state of charge, the Solterra sharply limits or disables regenerative braking and displays a 'Regenerative Braking Limited' message — sometimes while the dash regen indicator still reads full. Owners accustomed to one-pedal/S-pedal driving find the car coasts and requires much heavier friction-brake input, which is startling in winter traffic and increases brake wear until the pack warms.

On the 2023-2026 Subaru Solterra Electric (dual-motor AWD), solterra owners report the front windshield chips and cracks readily from routine road debris, with small stone chips spreading into full cracks quickly. Because the forward driver-assist camera is mounted to the glass, any replacement requires a precise front-camera (ADAS) recalibration. Note: unlike other Subarus, the Solterra rides on Toyota's bZ4X platform, and its driver-assist system - still marketed as EyeSight - is the Toyota-developed system with a single forward camera plus radar rather than the stereo-camera EyeSight pair used in other Subarus, so its calibration procedure differs. Owners describe long ordeals: glass on back-order and replacements taking multiple weeks, and Subaru not releasing the recalibration software to third parties for a period, forcing dealer-only calibration (one owner reported a ~6-week wait). When calibration is skipped or done poorly, lane-keep/pre-collision functions can misbehave afterward. This is a glass durability + serviceability problem, distinct from any native driver-assist software tuning.

On the 2023-2024 Subaru Solterra Electric (dual-motor AWD), owners report that at highway speed (roughly 40 mph and above) the exterior driver-side mirror shakes/flutters enough to blur the reflection, making it hard to judge traffic or check blind spots. This is an optical/safety concern distinct from cabin squeaks-and-rattles: the mirror image smears. It is the subject of a putative class action, Robinson v. Subaru of America, Inc. (D.N.J. 1:24-cv-09334), which names the 2023-2024 Solterra alongside the 2024 Crosstrek and 2024 Ascent, alleging the mirror design allows excessive vibration and that replacement mirrors exhibit the same defect. (Separate reporting indicates the broader defect investigation has been extended to look at the Outback as well; the Outback is not part of the Robinson complaint itself.)

On the 2023-2026 Subaru Solterra Dual Motor AWD (electric), new-owner reports of cabin squeaks and rattles are common, most notably from the plastic surround holding the overhead map lights and SOS button, vibrating exterior door mirrors, and trim around the front-passenger and driver rear doors. The silent EV powertrain makes these plastic buzzes far more audible than they would be in a gas car. Severity varies unit-to-unit (some owners report none), pointing to build/assembly consistency.